I'm glad you guys like this story. I am going to mess with the timeline a bit. Tseng is already the leader of the Turks.

I do not own FF7

Chapter 4

Cloud needed the support of the Turks. They were sneaky, deceitful, and useful bastards. He needed their trust, their loyalty, it was going to be a hard fought battle for sure.

Cloud could go to Aerith, he could befriend her, and maybe get the Turks' support. Tseng was wrapped around Aerith's little finger.

Unfortunately, Aerith was always a wild card. Sometimes she thought he was a cetra. Sometimes she thought he was an ancient.

Sometimes she thought he was nuts.

Yes, Aerith was a wild card indeed.

If Cloud approached Aerith the wrong way it would take a lot to get Tseng to trust him. On top of that Tseng was weird.

Cloud could approach Aerith the exact same way for three different cycles and Tseng would react different each time.

This time Cloud was going to do something different. He was going directly after Tseng.

He could act mysterious like he had with Genesis, but Tseng was far too smart for that (no offense Genesis). Cloud could also make himself out to be some divine being, but then there would be far too many questions that Cloud could not answer. There was blackmail, but Tseng would probably punt his tiny little self across Midgar. Cloud really wasn't very intimidating.

Luckily, he didn't need to do any of that. Cloud had the ultimate weapon.

He knew Tseng's dirty little secret.

Oh, he tried to deny that part of himself, but Cloud had known him for centuries, he had seen the signs.

Tseng...was a sucker for small, adorable children.

And guess who woke up with a pint sized body?

Cloud chuckled evilly.

Vincent smiled at the child's adorable giggle. It really amazed him how Cloud could keep his innocence, even when tasked with such a world changing mission.

-time skip-

Tseng was exhausted. The president had worked Tseng's team hard the past few weeks and he couldn't remember the last time he slept longer than 3 hours a night. Now, the long missions were finally over. He had stopped by Aerith's to check on her and now he was heading back to the upper plate to get some much needed sleep.

Except there was a child directly in his path.

A small golden hair child was smiling at him. Normally, Tseng would be able to resist and walk away, but the boy's bright blue eyes practically sparkled, and his cheeks were just so squeezable. It didn't help that his hair was sticking up all over the place like an adorably ruffled chocobo or that his white clothes added to his positively cute and innocent aura.

Tseng swallowed thickly and took a step back.

The boy saw it and his eyes welled up in tears.

Tseng flinched.

The boy took one more step forward and Tseng took another step back.

A lone tear trailed down the child's cheek and Tseng felt his resistance vanish. He stepped forward and scooped up the young boy in a hug.

"Don't cry. Please don't cry. Do you want to see something pretty?"

Cloud sniffled and nodded, blinking back crocodile tears.

Sucker.

Tseng took him to Aerith's church and sat him down in a field of flowers.

Cloud looked at the flowers in awe. He sat down on the ground and brushed an unopened flower bud, it slowly opened much to the other's shock. Secretly, Cloud was shocked too. Exactly, what had the Planet done to him this time? But just like his mom, Cloud knew when to just roll with it.

Tseng on the other hand was having an epiphany.

Tseng wasn't sure if it was the sleep deprivation from back to back missions or the child's disorienting adorable features but he was starting to believe that he was put on this earth to help children like Aerith and this boy.

Could it be that this child was a cetra like Aerith?

Once could have been chance, but twice? Tseng did not believe in coincidence.

Cloud looked up at him with wide, lost, blue eyes that screamed that he needed help.

Tseng's help.

It was Aerith all over again.

Tseng was a goner.

"Will you help me save the world?"

Tseng could only nod.

-time skip-

Cloud finally had his team. After some explanations from Vincent (whose existence completely shocked him by the way), Tseng was completely on board. Oddly, enough none of them questioned exactly how they were going to save the world. Cloud was pretty sure it was because Genesis and Vincent thought he was some divine being, and Tseng was used to some mystery being a Turk and all, or you know he was still blinded by the adorableness.

At the moment Cloud and Vincent were at their top secret base (a hotel under the plate). Cloud unwrapped the package he got from his mom with a smile. He wasn't sure how his mom knew where he was but Claudia Strife was full of surprises. Inside were some snacks, a blade sharpener, gun cleaner, and some money. There was also a smaller package for Vincent but his mom had instructed Cloud not to open it.

Cloud passed the package to Vincent before turning back around to munch on some cookies.

Vincent looked at his package curiously before opening it. A pair of red panties fell onto his lap and his face went crimson. He stuffed the lacy underwear in his pocket before Cloud saw.

Much later, this act would save all of their lives.

AN: I hope you guys like this chapter!